Pairing tea with food

There’s really no such thing as a traditional holiday meal at this time of year. Easter might find the table filled with ham or lamb while a Passover table will feature Seder foods, such as lamb, roasted egg, and charoset (a sweet mixture of chopped fruits and nuts with wine), or the Naw Ruz (Persian New Year) table will feature completely different foods.

Regardless of the menu, teas can be chosen to perfectly pair with any food you serve. Much like a good wine, a good tea can make a good meal a great meal. Serving a perfectly matched tea is not only totally classy, you'll need not fear for the safety of you lampshades, or collect keys at the door.

The best I can do is provide the following guidelines, but if you’d like a tea plan tailored to your dinner plan, please feel free to email me at teasmith@sensibiliteasonline.com and I'll do the best I can. Some of the teas I mention below are not yet available on the website, but are available at the shop. If you wish to order any of them online, just mention them in the special comments section of the order form (you’d have to order a sample of something in order to actuate the order form … I’ll throw that sample in with your order at no additional charge) Within the lists below, the tea names in blue are direct links to the appropriate page on the website.

Cheese
Asiago: Keemun Qi Hong, Japanese Sencha, Pai Mu Tan, White A Cappella, Kukicha
Brie: Longjing, Darjeeling Avongrove, Darjeeling Goomtee Spring, Tung Ting
Camembert: Longjing, Precious Eyebrow, Gunpowder, Darjeeling Risheehat Spring
Cheddar: Tung Ting, Darjeeling Risheehat Spring, Lapsang Souchong
Cream Cheese: Ceylon Courtlodge, Darjeeling Golpaldhara Summer
Edam: Ceylon Nadoototem, Darjeeling Makaibari Autumn, Java Kertasarie
Goat Cheese: Assam Rani Spring, Assam Gold, Afternoon With Aunt Faye
Gorgonzola: Precious Eyebrow, Ceylon Labookellie, Pouchong
Muenster: Tung Ting, Pouchong
Provolone: Ceylon Vithanakande, Nilgiri Korakundah Black

Herbs & Spices
Basil: Nine Dragons Oolong, Darjeeling Makaibari Spring, Longjing, Gunpowder
Capers: Gunpowder, Ceylon Courtlodge, Java Kertasarie
Chilies: Assam Banaspaty, Yunnan Reel, Keemun Organic, White Tip Baihao Oolong Supreme
Cinnamon: Yunnan Gold, Assam 1947, Darjeeling Makaibari Autumn, White Tip Baihao Oolong Supreme, Immortal Nectar Pu Erh
Garlic: Japanese Sencha, Gunpowder, Genmaicha
Ginger: Tung Ting, Jasmine Yin Hao, Pouchong, Darjeeling Goomtee Spring, Darjeeling Makaibari Spring, Makaibari Green
Mint: Darjeeling Risheehat Spring, Tung Ting,Pouchong, Gunpowder
Mustard: Gunpowder, Precious Eyebrow, Nepal Ilam, Milima
Nutmeg: Assam 1947, Darjeeling Avongrove, Yunnan Spiral, Ceylon Kenilworth
Vanilla: Keemun Qi Hong, Tung Ting, Pouchong, Vietnam Black, Tinderet, Golden Monkey

Mushroom dishes
Chanterelles: Assam Rembeng,Nilgiri Korakundah Black, Ceylon Orange Pekoe, Hunan Pu-Erh Leaf
Common: Assam Rembeng, Ceylon Orange Pekoe, Nilgiri Korakundah Black
Morels: Assam Rani Spring, Tung Ting, Darjeeling Golpaldhara Summer, Immortal Nectar Pu Erh
Porcini: Assam Rembeng, Ceylon Labookellie, Nilgiri Korakundah Black, Immortal Nectar Pu Erh

Poultry
Buffalo Wings: Ceylon Vithanakande, Immortal Nectar Pu Erh, Makaibari Green
Chicken, curried: Darjeeling Makaibari Spring, Pouchong, Longjing, Jasmine Green, Orchid Oolong, Makaibari Green
Chicken, fried: Assam Banaspaty, Ceylon Kenilworth, Nilgiri Korakundah Black
, Milima
Chicken, lemon: Tung Ting, Darjeeling Makaibari Spring, Ceylon Labookellie, Gunpowder, Wuyi Oolong
Chicken, roasted: Ceylon Labookellie, Gunpowder, Afternoon With Aunt Faye, Wuyi Oolong
Duck, roasted: Formosa Beauty, Wuyi Oolong
Turkey, roasted: Nine Dragons Oolong, Darjeeling Goomtee Spring, Ceylon Labookellie, Yunnan Gold, Wuyi Oolong

Seafood
Anchovies: Ceylon Green, Darjeeling Makaibari Spring, Gunpowder, Precious Eyebrow, Pouchong
BBQ Fish: Gunpowder, Hojicha, Precious Eyebrow, Bancha, Wuyi Oolong, Makaibari Green
Clam Chowder: Longjing, Precious Eyebrow, Ceylon Green
Lobster: Lishan Oolong, Alishan Oolong, Nine Dragons Oolong, Orchid Oolong, Royal Baihao Yinzhen, Silver Needle
Prawns: Ti Kuan Yin Royal, Longjing, Ceylon Green
Scallops: Longjing, Genmaicha, Gyokuro, Jasmine Yin Hao, Jasmine Pearls Organic, Dragon Phoenix Jasmine Pearl, Golden Jasmine Butterfly, Alishan Oolong, Tung Ting, Orchid Oolong, Royal Baihao Yinzhen, Silver Needle
Salmon: Tung Ting, Darjeeling Avongrove, Orchid Oolong
Seafood, Fried: Longjing, Genmaicha, Precious Eyebrow, Gunpowder, Wuyi Oolong
Seafood, Grilled: Longjing, Genmaicha, Precious Eyebrow, Gunpowder, Darjeeling Risheehat Spring, Wuyi Oolong, Orchid Oolong, Jade Oolong, Silver Needle, Royal Baihao Yinzhen
Seafood, Smoked: Tung Ting, Pouchong, Alishan Oolong, Darjeeling Makaibari Spring, Ceylon Vithanakande, Longjing, Wuyi Oolong

Meat dishes
Bacon: Assam 1947, Assam Banaspaty, Gunpowder, Ceylon Kenmare, Lapsang Souchong
BBQ Meat: Ceylon Labookellie, Yunnan Gold, Gunpowder, Keemun Hao Ya A
Beef: Ceylon Lumbini, Yunnan Gold, Formosa Oolong, Kambaa, Nilgiri Korakundah Black, Gunpowder, Yunnan Spiral
Beef Stew: Lapsang Souchong, Assam Gold, Assam Rani Spring, Nilgiri Korakundah Black
Carpaccio: Tung Ting, Darjeeling Goomtee Spring, Ceylon Orange Pekoe
Ham, Baked: Ceylon Labookellie, Assam Gold, Milima, Assam 1947
Ham, Smoked: Nine Dragons Oolong, Jade Oolong, Darjeeling Goomtee Spring, Longjing
Hamburgers: Ceylon Labookellie, Darjeeling Avongrove, Assam Rani Spring, Nilgiri Korakundah Black, Milima
Lamb: Ceylon Labookellie, Darjeeling Golpaldhara Summer, Yunnan Gold
Meat Loaf: Yunnan Reel, Keemun Organic, Nilgiri Korakundah Black, Tinderet
Pork: Darjeeling Avongrove, Ceylon Labookellie, Lishan Oolong, Hojicha, Lapsang Souchong, Longjing, Gunpowder, Precious Eyebrow
Salami: Ceylon Lover’s Leap, Nilgiri Korakundah Black, Keemun Hao Ya A

Other wonderful foods
Antipasto: Longjing,Pouchong, Ceylon Nadoototem, Nilgiri Korakundah Black
Avocado: Tung Ting, Pouchong, Darjeeling Goomtee Spring, Japanese Sencha
Baked Beans: Ceylon Kenmare, Assam Banaspaty, Kambaa, Yunnan Reel, Lapsang Souchong
Corn: Japanese Sencha, Hojicha, Precious Eyebrow
Corn Bread: Ceylon Vithanakande, Assam Gold, Tinderet, Yunnan Gold
Couscous: Ceylon Labookellie, Assam Rani Spring, Nilgiri Korakundah Black, Yunnan Gold, Gunpowder
Curry: Darjeeling Avongrove, Jasmine Green, Alishan Oolong, Jade Oolong, Orchid Oolong
Eggplant: Ceylon Courtlodge, Darjeeling Avongrove
Eggs: Darjeeling Golpaldhara Summer, Nine Dragons Oolong, Keemun Qi Hong, Afternoon With Aunt Faye, Ceylon Lumbini, Milima
Lasagna: Assam Banaspaty, Ceylon Vithanakande, Nilgiri Korakundah Black, Lapsang Souchong
Macaroni and Cheese: Japanese Sencha, Ceylon Labookellie, Tung Ting
Mexican: Assam Banaspaty, Ceylon Kenilworth, Java Kertasarie
Pizza: Ceylon Kenilworth, Yunnan Gold, Keemun Qi Hong, Immortal Nectar Pu Erh
Polenta: Darjeeling Avongrove, Yunnan Gold, Ceylon Labookellie
Potato Salad: Nine Dragons Oolong, Pouchong, Darjeeling Avongrove, Nilgiri Korakundah Black, Ceylon Labookellie
Quiche: Darjeeling Risheehat Spring, Ceylon Labookellie, Japanese Sencha, Longjing, Precious Eyebrow
Salsa: Vert du Vietnam, Ceylon Green
Vegetables (Raw) Ceylon Labookellie, Nilgiri Korakundah Black, Precious Eyebrow, Japanese Sencha

Desserts
Baklava: Darjeeling Makaibari Summer, Quangzhou Milk Oolong, Ceylon Kenilworth, Ceylon Green, Assam Rani Spring
Carrot Cake: Japanese Sencha, Longjing, Darjeeling Risheehat Spring, Ceylon Courtlodge, Assam 1947, Assam Rani Spring
Cheesecake: Japanese Sencha, Longjing, Ceylon Green, Ceylon Vithanakande, Darjeeling Avongrove, Keemun Qi Hong, Assam 1947
Chocolate, dark: Yunnan Gold, Hunan Gold, Cranberry Black, Assam 1947, Darjeeling Risheehat Summer, Jade Oolong, Quangzhou Milk Oolong, Keemun Mao Feng, Gyokuro.
Chocolate, milk: Yunnan Gold, Longjing, Japanese Sencha, Darjeeling Risheehat Spring, Quangzhou Milk Oolong, Golden Monkey
Crème Brûlée/Caramel: Darjeeling Risheehat Summer, Ti Kuan Yin Gold, Longjing, Assam 1947, Afternoon With Aunt Faye, Ceylon Green, Ceylon Lumbini, Golden Monkey
Crêpes: Darjeeling Makaibari Spring, Alishan Oolong, Jade Oolong
Dessert with Apples: Darjeeling Goomtee Spring, Longjing, Ti Kuan Yin Gold, Frost
Dessert with Apricots: Alishan Oolong, Darjeeling Golpaldhara Summer
Dessert with Bananas: Ti Kuan Yin Gold, Tung Ting, Pouchong, Ceylon Labookellie, Golden Monkey
Dessert with Black Currants: Longjing, Darjeeling Risheehat Summer, Jade Oolong
Dessert with Coconut: Assam 1947, Vanilla Organic Black, Afternoon With Aunt Faye
Dessert with Coffee or Mocha: Yunnan Golden Halo, Assam 1947, Immortal Nectar Pu Erh
Dessert with Raspberries: Darjeeling Avongrove, Ceylon Green, Ceylon Kenilworth, Afternoon With Aunt Faye, Song Yang
Dessert with Strawberries Darjeeling Golpaldhara Summer, Longjing, Ti Kuan Yin Royal
Fresh Fruit: Darjeeling Makaibari Spring, Pouchong, Tung Ting, Rooibos
Fruit Compote: Ceylon Labookellie, Darjeeling Makaibari Spring, Yunnan Reel, Longjing, Ti Kuan Yin Royal, Alishan Oolong, Jade Oolong
Pecan Pie: Quangzhou Milk Oolong, Alishan Oolong, Darjeeling Avongrove, Assam 1947, Ceylon Vithanakande
Pumpkin Pie: Longjing, Ceylon Green, Ceylon Labookellie, Darjeeling Risheehat Summer
Vanilla: Keemun Qi Hong, Tung Ting, Pouchong, Vietnam Black, Tinderet, Golden Monkey